Gatlinburg, Tennessee has been suffering from the effects of one of the state’s worst wildfires in history. Amidst a mandatory evacuation, deadly smoke, and an encroaching fire, Gatlinburg’s aquatic friends were forced to stay behind in Ripley’s Aquarium of The Smokies. 

Leaving the animals at Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg is home to 10,518 animals. Ryan DeSear, general manager at the aquarium, was reluctant to leave the animals. But he knew that the facility was equipped to protect the wildlife, as long as it didn’t lose power. The animals would be able to survive without human intervention for at least 24 hours. Cameras throughout the aquarium enabled DeSear and his fellow colleagues to continue checking on the animals after they themselves were evacuated. DeSear reported that a special Aquarium Team stayed with the animals until the last possible second. When the fire was literally at their doorstep, 50 yards away from the building, all of the remaining employees were forced to evacuate.

How are the animals doing now? 
Thankfully, all of the animals at Ripley’s Aquarium are alive and well. An emergency aquarium team was allowed back into the building the next morning, escorted by fire department personnel, to check on the well-being of the animals. They reported back that all of the animals were safe. DeSear posted on social media and the Ripley’s Aquarium blog to share this news with concerned Aquarium guests and to express his gratitude for the first responders’ courageous work battling the wildfire. DeSear also shared that other Ripley’s Aquarium Teams in Myrtle Beach and Buffalo are preparing to step in and assist and that many local zoos and aquariums have also offered their support. The Aquarium will remain closed until the evacuation order has been lifted but teams will continue to assess and support the animals inside. 

Other disastrous effects of the wildfire
While the animals may have been safe from the wildfire, not all of Gatlinburg was so lucky. As of December 2nd, 13 people have been confirmed dead due to the wildfire. 85 people have been treated or are receiving treatment for wildfire-related injuries. And over 1000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed by the wildfire. While the county deals with their devastating losses and focuses on rebuilding, many are wondering if officials did enough. Criticisms over the delayed and inefficient evacuation order have been received by the mayor’s office. In addition, as a resort town focused on tourism, many in Gatlinburg are worried about job loss for years to come. 

Residents of Gatlinburg and neighboring counties were given the order to evacuate the night of November 28th. It wasn’t until December 2nd that they were allowed to return to their homes to assess the damage. As the area is still considered dangerous and the possibility of reignition quite severe, residents are only permitted in their homes during daytime hours. 

Scope and severity of the fire
The wildfire originated in the Chimney Tops Trail area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park a week before the evacuation was ordered in Gatlinburg. While the fire remains under investigation, Park Rangers are stating that it was human-caused. They are uncertain whether it was started intentionally or by accident. So far the wildfire has consumed 18,000 acres with over 6000 of those being outside of the National Park.